By Helen Udofa
EKET
To promote academic excellence and healthy competition among students of Government Secondary School Afaha Eket, the School’s Alumni Association has rewarded brilliant students who were exceptional in academic and other areas, with medals, cash prizes and university scholarship.
Also rewarded during the 2023/2024 Combined Graduation/Prize-Giving Ceremony and reunion, with the theme, “Let’s Reconnect and Reflect”, organized, recently, by the Alumni Association in the School Assembly Hall, were some teaching and non-teaching staff who distinguished themselves in various ways.
The Alumni President, Mr. Aniekan Willie, said annually old students of the school travel from the United States of America, United Kingdom, Russia and other cities within Nigeria to be part of the ceremony, during which they give back to the school.
He said that was because they recognized that they gained something from their Alma Mater which has given them stability to grow in life after they graduated from the school.
Willie identified the core principles of integrity, hard work, teamwork, dedication, accountability and respect for constituted authority, they were taught in the school, to be what have helped the old students to face the world and grow over the years, noting that this was what made them to come back to encourage the graduating students not to forget those core principles and values as they move forward in life.
He encouraged the graduating students to see those core principles as the rock of support that will help them overcome life’s challenges in future, saying as long as they hold on to those values they will never go wrong in life.
The Alumni President pointed out that one of the reasons the old students came together to form the Association was for them to be able to collectively intervene in various areas in their Alma Mater, using their network and connections to help the school in areas of need, which he said they have demonstrated in the last nine years or more.
One of such interventions he mentioned was the ongoing renovation of the school Assembly Hall, which they have re-roofed, and changed the old ceiling, hinting that by next year during the 10th anniversary of the Association a fully rebranded Assembly Hall will be handed over to the school.
Willie thanked fellow old students for supporting the Association’s interventions in the school and for keeping the vision alive.
The Chairman of the State Secondary Education Board, SSEB, Dr. Ekaete Ebong Okon, said the Board was glad over the Alumni Association’s consistency in giving the annual awards to graduating students of the school over the years and expressed the hope that the partnership would continue for the growth of Government Secondary School Afaha Eket.
Okon, who was represented by a director in the Board, Mr. Joseph Eton, thanked the Alumni Association for the intervention projects it has embarked upon in the school, and called for more of such partnerships from concerned individuals and organizations such as alumni associations of different schools, saying government cannot fund education alone.
The Chairman on the occasion and keynote speaker, Professor Herbert Batta, of the University of Uyo, commended the Alumni Association for its various contributions towards the development of their Alma Mater and for always finding time to meet physically to reignite their ties and encourage themselves to chart more ways of building their alma mater and by so doing, contribute to improve the standard of education as their way of giving back to society.
Himself an old student of Government Secondary School, Afaha Eket, Batta, who gave a keynote on the cruciality of education in the 21st century and the role of Alumni Associations, reminded everyone of the pivotal role of education and examined the sort of education needed in this 21st century, as well as explored the role of the Alumni in boosting quality education and captured the significance of education stakeholders including government, host community, parents, teachers and others.
The principal of Government Secondary School Afaha Eket, Mr. Emediong Nyong, looked back at over 15 laurels won by the school in academic, sporting, debating and other areas, including the recent International Bilateral Debate won in Singapore, the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Competition organized by Women in Tec Makers in Eket, where the school came first.
Nyong made a pledge that the management, staff and students of the school will keep the flag flying at full mast as well as continue to uphold the core values of integrity, hard work, teamwork, dedication, accountability, respect for constituted authority and above all, the welfare of students.
He, however, solicited support to overcome the challenges facing the school such as inadequate qualified teachers and dilapidated staff quarters, saying the renovation of those quarters including that of the principal would enhance efficiency of work and thanked parents for keeping the faith with the famous educational institution as well as appreciated the Alumni Association for living up to their expectations in always giving back to their alma mater.
The chairman of Eket Local Government Area, Rt. Hon. Akaninyene Tommey, expressed happiness over the partnership of the Alumni Association in the development of Government Secondary School Afaha Eket.
Represented by the Council Secretary, Pst John Odungide, the Chairman, reading the lines of a poem, titled, “Rose Bud”, encouraged students of the school to always do the things they have to do when they have the time to do them, while also emphasizing the importance of good education to human and societal development.
The colourful event climaxed later in the evening with the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Reunion Dinner of the Alumni Association.
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